Best Local Restaurant
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Bavette

West Yorkshire, Leeds - French - Restaurant - ££

The very model of a genuine neighbourhood bistro

Overall Rating: Very Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Very Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Very Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Very Good

‘Such a gorgeous local spot – so happy to have it not too far away,’ exclaimed a fan of Sandy Jarvis and Clément Cousin's convivial neighbourhood bistro in the Leeds suburb of Horsforth. Shelves of books on deep green walls create a smart domestic ambience, and the food does the rest. It's a Franco-Yorkshire alliance in every sense (M Cousin hails from Anjou on the Loire), and the menu reflects that collaborative spirit. Start with pork and prune pâté en croûte with the house mustard for an inimitably Gallic 'appetiser experience'. Starters might embrace light crab tartelette with fennel, pea shoots and saffron aïoli, before the speciality bavette makes an appearance, tricked out with French beans and frites – the kind of sturdy main course that won't let you down. The dessert list is, by and large, pure bistro French – perhaps St Emilion au chocolat or raspberry frangipane with matching sorbet. Wines delve into some of the l...

‘Such a gorgeous local spot – so happy to have it not too far away,’ exclaimed a fan of Sandy Jarvis and Clément Cousin's convivial neighbourhood bistro in the Leeds suburb of Horsforth. Shelves of books on deep green walls create a smart domestic ambience, and the food does the rest. It's a Franco-Yorkshire alliance in every sense (M Cousin hails from Anjou on the Loire), and the menu reflects that collaborative spirit. Start with pork and prune pâté en croûte with the house mustard for an inimitably Gallic 'appetiser experience'. Starters might embrace light crab tartelette with fennel, pea shoots and saffron aïoli, before the speciality bavette makes an appearance, tricked out with French beans and frites – the kind of sturdy main course that won't let you down. The dessert list is, by and large, pure bistro French – perhaps St Emilion au chocolat or raspberry frangipane with matching sorbet. Wines delve into some of the less-trodden byways of France, from Jurançon Sec to the Cousin family's own Anjou Cabernet Franc and Grolleau Gris.

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A Crossland

20 April 2026

Superb food. Outstanding friendly and knowledgeable service. Always a great atmosphere. Varied wine list with very informed advice from all staff members. Clearly every waiting staff member is so well briefed on the food and wine.

Z Whitelock

15 April 2026

A lush, welcoming environment with food to DIE for. Such a gorgeous local spot - So happy to have it not too far away. Excellent for a date night, or an intimate night with a few friends, the guys at Bavette have created something special.

N JACKS

25 March 2026

Bavette is a bistro in Horsforth, a suburb of Leeds, and upon looking at the menu I immediately loved the offering a mix of seasonal dishes. The staff were friendly, and conducted themselves in a professional and chilled...
Bavette is a bistro in Horsforth, a suburb of Leeds, and upon looking at the menu I immediately loved the offering a mix of seasonal dishes. The staff were friendly, and conducted themselves in a professional and chilled manner and I really liked the open kitchen which added to the atmosphere. The food came out very quickly and was delicious. My starter was a twice-baked crab soufflé with a bisque sauce and fennel salad. The soufflé was moist and spongy with a sweet full-bodied flavour and was...
Bavette is a bistro in Horsforth, a suburb of Leeds, and upon looking at the menu I immediately loved the offering a mix of seasonal dishes. The staff were friendly, and conducted themselves in a professional and chilled manner and I really liked the open kitchen which added to the atmosphere. The food came out very quickly and was delicious. My starter was a twice-baked crab soufflé with a bisque sauce and fennel salad. The soufflé was moist and spongy with a sweet full-bodied flavour and was paired well with the fresh salad. For the main course, I ordered a herb-crusted lamb saddle, with a celeriac purée, and selection of seasonal vegetables. The lamb saddle was beautifully cooked and my steak knife cut through it with ease. The celeriac purée was like velvet and wonderfully creamy. For dessert I had the Paris-Brest, a classic French pastry shaped into a ring and filled with praline-flavoured cream and topped with flaked almonds and sugar. The choux pastry was delicate and airy, perfectly complemented by the thick swirl of cream.
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S Lawrence

5 June 2024

Fantastic staff and atmosphere. I had anchovies with shallots on toast that were to die for, as well as the most amazing Crème Brûlée. The wine selection is outstanding, and you can tell that a lot of love, passion, and work has been put into this restaurant.

C Preston

21 May 2024

Not only does this bistro have incredible food, but the service is absolutely spot on. It’s a place I love to bring my friends and tell people about. It has such a cosy, homely vibe to it, and the staff go above and beyond to make sure you have the best experience.

J Kelly

20 May 2024

Disgracefully delicious, such good value and exquisite service. The kind of place you could go to every week and be extremely happy. Can’t imagine it’ll be easy to get a table soon.

J O’Brien

13 April 2024

A neighbourhood bistro serving incredibly delicious food using the most seasonal and high-quality produce. Warm and generous hospitality with an exciting wine list celebrating the best winemakers. Sandy and Clément care deeply about what they do, which shines through in every aspect of Bavette.

VENUE DETAILS

4-6 Town Street, Horsforth
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS18 4RJ GB

0113 258 2900

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OTHER INFORMATION

Wheelchair access, Family friendly, Dog friendly, Credit card required

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